Human Rights Watch: Jordan was never an oppressive country and will never be one”, said King Abdullah II of Jordan on August 15, just days after he signed into law a draconian cybercrimes bill that will greatly restrict the space for local online debate and public criticism.
In response to widespread criticism of the law, the king publicly stressed that the fight against cybercrime should not be at the expense of Jordanians’ right to express their opinions or criticize public policies.
But these words ring hollow against the backdrop of Jordan’s authoritarian slide over the past few years. Yes, the government has projected a narrative of political reform and modernization, passing new laws on elections and political parties to encourage political participation. But at the same time, Jordanian authorities have been ramping up the harassment and persecution of citizens peacefully organizing and engaging in political dissent, using vague laws to criminalize peaceful speech, assembly, and association, including the previous version of the cybercrime law.
In addition to the laws, authorities are increasingly relying on harassment and arbitrary detention to shut off civic space, targeting journalists, political activists, and members of political parties and independent trade unions – and in some cases their family members – with restrictions on work and travel. The authorities have also dissolved political parties and independently elected trade unions, and placed increased restrictions on media freedoms, including through sweeping gag orders.
I choose not to legitimately repressive regimes by gossiping as if they were without political power
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Human Rights Watch: Jordan was never an oppressive country and will never be one”, said King Abdullah II of Jordan on August 15, just days after he signed into law a draconian cybercrimes bill that will greatly restrict the space for local online debate and public criticism.
In response to widespread criticism of the law, the king publicly stressed that the fight against cybercrime should not be at the expense of Jordanians’ right to express their opinions or criticize public policies.
But these words ring hollow against the backdrop of Jordan’s authoritarian slide over the past few years. Yes, the government has projected a narrative of political reform and modernization, passing new laws on elections and political parties to encourage political participation. But at the same time, Jordanian authorities have been ramping up the harassment and persecution of citizens peacefully organizing and engaging in political dissent, using vague laws to criminalize peaceful speech, assembly, and association, including the previous version of the cybercrime law.
In addition to the laws, authorities are increasingly relying on harassment and arbitrary detention to shut off civic space, targeting journalists, political activists, and members of political parties and independent trade unions – and in some cases their family members – with restrictions on work and travel. The authorities have also dissolved political parties and independently elected trade unions, and placed increased restrictions on media freedoms, including through sweeping gag orders.
I choose not to legitimately repressive regimes by gossiping as if they were without political power
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